Honestly....

In Minnesota where I live, "Minnesota Nice" is worn like a badge of honor.  We are very polite here, almost to a fault, and that's wonderful, right?  Not one to reveal a secret, but I have to be honest here, "Minnesota Nice" is mostly another term for "Passive Aggressive"!  We know it, and freely admit it, but never to outsiders!

Enter this new phenomenon known as Trump.  We gasp at his blatant honesty and straightforwardness, and watch as he rises in the polls.  The media is stunned.  So this morning, I took some time to think about the driving factor behind this, and I think it comes down to the fact that people really do appreciate those who are direct.  In Minnesota, we snicker at the people "out East" who we deem to be SO rude.  Is it rudeness?  Or do they just want to quit wasting everyone's time and get down to business?

I recently exchanged an email with a New Yorker, trying to figure out how to dance around getting an invitation for a business partner to an important meeting.  She said "I don't want to waste his time as we'll never use his services".  Rather than feeling put out, I appreciated that she told me.  And not to pick on Minnesotans, because I am one, we would have said "oh yes, tell him to come", then would have quietly resented it!

I remember when I was working as a meeting planner and didn't have the heart to turn people down for an appointment, lunch, phone call, etc.  I found myself almost resenting the people who were "stealing" my time, yet whose fault was it?  Now that the shoe is on the other foot and I'm the one asking for a planner's time, I find that I'm appreciating when they say "we are working with another company" or "we don't have a need for your services".  Thank you...now I can move on instead of putting you on a reminder list.  We've both saved time.

I'm vowing to take a page out of Trump's playbook, only it will be balanced by a genuine dose of "Minnesota Nice".

I welcome your thoughts!